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This study evaluates the capacity of a school-based family referral service to support school personnel in connecting at-risk students with appropriate community agencies. Through a partnership between New South Wales government departments and a not-for-profit counselling organisation, the family referral service was piloted at four regional, government schools. In phase 1 of the mixed methods evaluation, 135 students completed an online version of the Student Engagement Instrument. In phase 2, 32 primary and secondary teachers participated in four focus groups. Four principals and 19 key stakeholders participated in individual, semi-structured interviews. Findings showed the service increased the schools' capacity to manage students who were at risk of underachievement and poorer educational outcomes and reduced the workload of principals and teachers. While high Student Engagement Instrument subscale scores were obtained for extrinsic motivation and relationships with teachers, family support for learning received the lowest scores. Recommendations for the wider promotion of school-family partnerships focussing on locating flexible, family referral services within schools are discussed.

Cigarette smoking is common among pregnant women with substance use disorders (SUD) and may contribute to more adverse health consequences for the infant than alcohol and illicit drug use. However, most studies focused on stopping illicit drug use and paid little attention to cigarette smoking in pregnant women with SUD. To identify predictors of current smoking among pregnant women with SUD, given past-month psychological distress, alcohol use and illicit drug use, the receipt of past-year mental health and substance use treatment controlling for potential confounders. Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) 2015–2019 was conducted. The NSDUH included 3,540 pregnant women aged 18–44 years; among them were 195 lifetime smokers with SUD. Multiple logistic regression modeling was used to examine the probability of prenatal smoking. Sixty-one percent of pregnant women with SUD reported current cigarette smoking. The likelihood of prenatal smoking increased with a higher level of past-month psychological distress (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] 1.14; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.02–1.28), past-month illicit drug use (AOR: 5.68; 95% CI: 1.59–20.21), and past-year substance use treatment receipt (AOR: 5.73; 95% CI: 1.88–17.45). The receipt of substance use treatment markedly increased the probability of smoking in pregnant women with SUD. Treatment and policy initiatives are required to address and integrate cigarette smoking within other substance use treatment modalities for pregnant women with SUD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family Treatment Drug Courts (FTDCs) have been implemented to assist families involved with the child welfare system due to substance use. This article describes an enhanced version of a Family Treatment Drug Court intervention which builds on the traditional FTDC model but includes adaptations that add theoretically driven components to the basic FTDC model that aim to strengthen not only permanency outcomes but also address child well‐being including several precursors to child well‐being: parent well‐being and family well‐being so that the additional child welfare outcome of child well‐being can be met. The enhanced FTDC model described in this paper offers three phases of treatment but also utilizes data gathered for evaluation purposes as continuous quality improvement information to inform providers regarding participant engagement so that targeted re‐engagement efforts can occur to reduce dropouts. Thus, this paper also describes the measures utilized in the comprehensive evaluation. Data include 33 standardized scales from multiple sources, including clients, therapists/treatment providers, court personnel, and child welfare workers, at multiple points ranging from weekly to quarterly. Implications are discussed regarding how this enhanced FTDC model and use of evaluation/CQI data impact client engagement and multiple outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Quick access to substance use treatment is associated with better outcomes, but little is known about COVID-19's impact on access and retention. This study examined the relationship between COVID-19-related practice changes and quick access fidelity outcomes of the Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Teams (START) program, which serves families with co-occurring substance use and child abuse/neglect. Method: This study was a retrospective cohort comparison. On March 23, 2020, most START child welfare and treatment services were shifted to a virtual format because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Families referred to the program between that date and March 23, 2021, were compared with families served the year before (i.e., March 23, 2019, to March 22, 2020). Cohorts were compared across nine fidelity outcomes (e.g., number of days to complete four treatment sessions), with differences assessed using chi-square tests and independent samples t tests. Results: Referrals to START were 14% lower during the first COVID-19 year than in the prior year, with a greater percentage of referred cases being accepted during COVID-19. Transition to virtual service provision was not related to quick access fidelity outcomes; however, adults referred in the year before COVID-19 were more likely to complete four treatment sessions than adults referred during the first COVID-19 year. Conclusions: In this study, quick access to services and initial engagement did not appear to be negatively affected by virtual service provision resulting from COVID-19. However, during COVID-19, fewer adults completed four treatment sessions. In a largely virtual treatment environment, additional engagement and pre-treatment services may be necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our objective was to determine if past-year mental illness and substance use disorders (SUD) among pregnant smokers predicted the probability of receipt of counselling for cigarette smoking cessation. A secondary analysis of data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2016–2019 was conducted. We found that approximately 83% of pregnant smokers (N = 373) received screening for cigarette smoking, and 65% received cessation counselling. Having mental illness predicted the probability of receipt of counselling for smoking cessation in pregnant smokers (adjusted odds ratio [ AOR ]: 3.75; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.25–11.27). However, having SUD (alcohol [ AOR : 2.30; 95%CI: 0.57–9.26] or illicit drug use [ AOR : 1.32; 95%CI: 0.26–6.82]) or comorbid mental illness and SUD (AOR : 0.23; 95%CI: 0.03–2.03) was not associated with receipt of counselling for smoking cessation. Practice guidelines and policy initiatives are needed to reduce cigarette use and its related adverse health outcomes in pregnant smokers with SUD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about factors associated with child welfare case duration. Understanding factors associated with case duration may help stakeholders make more informed decisions about funding and service allocation and improve compliance with federal law. This study had two research questions: (1) What factors are associated with child welfare case duration? And (2) Do factors differ depending on whether children were placed exclusively with parents or with others (e.g. relatives and foster care) during the case? The study sample consisted of families (N = 874) with co‐occurring child maltreatment and substance use in one midwestern state in the United States between 2007 and 2016. Linear regression models were used to identify correlates of case duration while controlling for child placement status. Overall, having a child under 1 year of age, benzodiazepine use, methamphetamine use and injection drug use were all associated with longer case duration, whereas marijuana use with no other substance use was associated with shorter case duration. Additionally, factors associated with case duration differed based on child placement status during the case. These findings suggest important heterogeneity in families involved with child welfare services and may allow for proactive mitigation of cases at greater risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and correlates of nonmedical prescription drug misuse (PDM) in a state population of youths in residential care for antisocial behavior. Method: Interviews assessing substance use, psychiatric symptoms, antisocial traits/behavior, and traumatic life experiences were conducted with 723 Missouri youths. Participants were predominantly male (87.0%), averaged 15.5 (SD = 1.2) years of age, and constituted 97.7% of the service population sampled. Results: Overall, 314 youths (43.4%) reported lifetime PDM; 33.7%, 32.0%, and 11.2% had misused prescription opioids, tranquilizers, and barbiturates, respectively. Prescription drug misusers were significantly older, and larger proportions were girls, were White, and resided in small towns, compared with non-prescription drug misusers. Prescription drug misusers evidenced significantly more varied, frequent, and problematic psychoactive drug use; evidenced higher levels of distressing psychiatric symptoms; and were nearly twice as likely to have been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, compared with non-prescription drug misusers. Traumatic life events, experiences of criminal victimization, and suicidal ideation were significantly more prevalent in the histories of prescription drug misusers, compared with non-prescription drug misusers. In multiple logistic regression models, older age; White racial status; prior inhalant, marijuana, and LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) use; residence in a small town; and impulsivity were associated with increased risk for PDM. Conclusions: Adolescents in residential care for antisocial behavior have high rates of PDM, as well as comorbid psychiatric and behavioral problems. Youths served in institutional settings should be routinely screened and treated for PDM and co-occurring disorders. (J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs, 71, 917-924, 2010), MOST EPIDEMIOLOGICAL RESEARCH examining adolescent prescription drug misuse (PDM) has been conducted in schools or, to a lesser degree, in homes. School-based studies, such as the Monitoring the Future (MTF; [...]

Objectives: To (1) compare the probability of cigarette smoking cessation for pregnant women with and without past‐year mental illness by the trimester of pregnancy; and (2) examine the association between the receipt of past‐year mental health treatment and prenatal cigarette smoking cessation among pregnant lifetime‐smokers with mental illness. Methods: We conducted secondary analysis of data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) 2008–2014. The NSDUH included 2019 pregnant lifetime smokers aged 18–44 years, 528 of whom had a mental illness. We used multiple logistic regression to model the probability of prenatal cigarette smoking cessation. Results: Pregnant lifetime‐smokers with mental illness had a lower rate of cigarette smoking cessation than women without mental illness (47.9% vs. 61.7%, p = 0.001). Compared to pregnant women without mental illness, pregnant women with mental illness had a significantly lower odds of smoking cessation in the first trimester (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]: 0.34, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.18–0.66), but not in the second (AOR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.46–1.63) and third trimesters (AOR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.51–1.72). The likelihood of quitting smoking did not differ significantly for pregnant lifetime‐smokers with mental illness who received and did not receive mental health treatment (AOR: 1.69, 95% CI: 0.87–3.28). Conclusion: Pregnant lifetime‐smokers with mental illness are less likely to quit smoking than those without mental illness; overall, pregnant women tended to quit smoking as they progressed in their pregnancy. The receipt of mental health treatment was not associated with quitting smoking. Mental health care providers need to screen for cigarette use among pregnant women and strengthen smoking cessation efforts. Clinical relevance: Pregnancy presents a unique opportunity for mental health care providers to screen for cigarette use in women with mental illness and support their smoking cessation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare trends in mental health and substance use disorders and treatment receipt of pregnant and nonpregnant women from 2008 to 2014.Methods: Using data from the 2008-2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, logistic regression was used to compare trends in mental health and substance use disorders and treatment receipt for mental health and substance use disorders among propensity score-matched groups of pregnant (n = 5520) and nonpregnant women (n = 11,040). Among women in the matched sample who met criteria for at least one mental illness, trends in mental health treatment receipt of pregnant (n = 1003) and nonpregnant women (n = 2634) were compared.Results: There were no differences in the trends by pregnancy status from 2008 to 2014. Past-year anxiety disorder, past-month psychological distress and illicit drug use disorder increased in the total sample from 2008 to 2014, yet trends in mental health treatment and unmet need for substance use treatment did not change over time. Pregnant women had lower odds of mental illness, but those who had mental illness were less likely to receive mental health treatment than their nonpregnant counterparts.Conclusions: There is a need for preventive strategies addressing anxiety disorder, psychological distress and illicit drug use among women of childbearing age as well as initiatives to increase access to mental health treatment among pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-risk alcohol use on college campuses is a significant public health concern, especially among students in fraternities and sororities. Alcohol harm-reduction programs that include protective behavioral strategies (PBSs) provide a promising approach to curb drinking among students, yet results have been inconsistent among high-risk drinkers. Purpose: To evaluate the impact of a harm-reduction, peer-led training program called "Voice of Reason" (VOR) on alcohol knowledge and behaviors among students in Greek chapters. Methods: We conducted two studies with students directly trained in VOR (Study 1: N = 118; Study 2: N = 53) and with students in affiliated Greek chapters (Study 1: N = 1363; Study 2: N = 1446). Study 1 included 13 chapters and Study 2 included 15 chapters. Results: Results of analyses across both studies showed that among those directly trained in VOR, there were pre-post increases in alcohol knowledge, medical amnesty law awareness, talking with friends about PBS, use of PBS, and intentions to use PBS, as well as pre-post decreases in drinking and driving and riding with drinking drivers. In addition, VOR had an impact on students in affiliated chapters, indicating an increase in medical amnesty law awareness and a decrease in the number of drinks consumed on a typical day. Conclusions: Overall, results provide some early evidence of VOR impact, while also demonstrating the challenge of changing normative drinking behaviors among high-risk college students. Ongoing research is needed to assess the effectiveness of VOR, especially after successive implementations with the same chapters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Families in the child welfare (CW) system who cannot be engaged in services are at high risk of negative outcomes. As motivational interviewing (MI) has been shown to improve engagement in similar contexts. This study aimed to systematically review MI with CW families as well as MI training with CW workers and social work students training to become CW workers. The review used Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and searched multiple databases in June 2018. In September 2019, the initial search was repeated with additional searches to identify gray literature. Eight studies described the acquisition of MI among CW workers or student trainees, and 11 studies evaluated the impact of MI on families in CW. MI's impact on some family outcomes, such as engagement in services, was mixed, though MI paired with other evidence-based treatments showed positive effects. With regard to training CW workers and students in MI, differences in training duration, intensity, and modality make conclusions difficult, though trainees generally described MI favorably and some studies showed training increased worker empathy and self-efficacy. Importantly, few published studies have evaluated whether MI-trained CW workers impact out-of-home-care placement, and no studies have evaluated their impact on maltreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the robustness of the proposed factor structure of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-18) in a sample of justice-involved women (N = 406). Efforts to assess accurately and intervene effectively regarding mental health issues (namely, somatization, depression, and anxiety) are critical due to growing proportions of women involved in the criminal justice system and the link between mental health and justice-system outcomes among women. Women on probation or parole provided responses to the BSI-18 as part of a larger study on victimization and substance use. Analyses included calculation of descriptive statistics and confirmatory factor and simulation analyses. Results show strong model–data fit indices reflecting that the BSI-18 is a robust and pragmatic self-report symptom inventory for women with criminal justice system involvement. Limitations related to cross-sectional design and a small, nonrandom sample are noted and implications for mental health assessment and intervention are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Asia, Mitragyna speciosa (e.g., "kratom") has been used to mitigate alcohol and drug dependence. Some preliminary findings suggest kratom's potential use as an informal harm-reduction method in the United States, such as an opioid substitute or as a means of lessening opioid withdrawal symptoms. To determine correlates of past-year kratom use among a sample of polysubstance users enrolled in residential recovery programs in Kentucky, an anonymous survey was completed by clients in April 2017. Logistic regression was used to identify significant associations with past-year kratom use. Of the final sample (N = 478), 10.4% reported past-year kratom use. Past-year heroin use, but not past-year prescription opioid (e.g., oxycodone, hydrocodone) use, was significantly associated with kratom use, such that individuals who reported past-year heroin use were 2.5 times more likely to also report past-year kratom use. Non-prescribed buprenorphine (i.e., Suboxone) use partially mediated the relationship between past-year heroin and kratom use by explaining 36% of the association between the two drugs. Though amphetamines were highly preferred, past-year use was negatively correlated with past-year kratom use. Rates of past-year kratom use were lower than rates of alcohol and illicit drug use. Kratom was not preferred over heroin or prescription opioids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this exploratory study was to establish the prevalence of disability as measured by self-reported Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) receipt among a sample of women on probation and parole who have experienced interpersonal victimization in childhood and/or adulthood. Women receiving SSDI were more likely to be older, White, to live alone, and to score lower on measures of social support compared to women not receiving SSDI. SSDI recipients were also more likely to report poorer health, chronic pain, and more frequent health care service utilization. High rates of adverse childhood experiences, rape, adult victimization, and an overall greater severity of post-traumatic stress disorder symptomatology were observed for women receiving SSDI. Groups had similar overall mental health profiles and diverged primarily on trauma variables. Findings support the need for trauma-informed care and highlight the possibility that some criminal justice system–involved women likely qualify for SSDI, yet are not receiving it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the capacity of a school-based family referral service to support school personnel in connecting at-risk students with appropriate community agencies. Through a partnership between New South Wales government departments and a not-for-profit counselling organisation, the family referral service was piloted at four regional, government schools. In phase 1 of the mixed methods evaluation, 135 students completed an online version of the Student Engagement Instrument. In phase 2, 32 primary and secondary teachers participated in four focus groups. Four principals and 19 key stakeholders participated in individual, semi-structured interviews. Findings showed the service increased the schools’ capacity to manage students who were at risk of underachievement and poorer educational outcomes and reduced the workload of principals and teachers. While high Student Engagement Instrument subscale scores were obtained for extrinsic motivation and relationships with teachers, family support for learning received the lowest scores. Recommendations for the wider promotion of school–family partnerships focussing on locating flexible, family referral services within schools are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although each state in the United States legally authorizes involuntary civil commitment on the grounds of severe mental illness, a considerable number do not have comparable laws to mandate drug addiction treatment. This discrepancy is due, in part, to differing ethical positions regarding whether a substance use disorder diagnosis provides sufficient justification to suspend individual liberty rights. This article chronicles some of the legal and ethical thinking on the subject and applies them to a social work-specific context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increase in parental substance use disorders (SUD) and the number of infants and toddlers entering foster care has prompted federal and state efforts to change the treatment paradigm toward more integrated and family-centered strategies. The Regional Partnership Grant (RPG) program demonstrated that family-centered strategies can improve child and parent outcomes. The current challenge is to bring effective strategies to scale. This conceptual article highlights the lessons learned from 10 years of implementing and evaluating programs to meet the needs of families affected by parental SUD and child maltreatment. Effective family-centered strategies identified by the RPG program are illustrated with specifics from the Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Team program. These effective strategies could be implemented in any jurisdiction and include (1) collaboration toward integrated services between child welfare and SUD treatment, (2) timely access to SUDS treatment, (3) recovery management and support, (4) tailored family services, and (5) adaptation to local jurisdiction needs. When these strategies are operational, children are more likely to be safe and remain in parent custody, and parents are more likely to achieve sobriety and improve their parental capacity. Future research might examine the unique impact of each of the five strategies independently. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Employment is a goal for many people in recovery from substance use disorders, and might protect against relapse. Interventions that use employment to promote recovery outcomes are well-studied among individuals with serious mental illness, but less is known about the outcomes of such interventions for individuals in recovery from substance use disorders. Therefore, we searched the literature for published studies that describe the effects of employment interventions on substance abuse treatment outcomes for persons recovering from substance use disorders. Twelve peer-reviewed studies were identified. Although employment interventions varied greatly across the studies, 11 of 12 studies demonstrated a positive relationship between employment interventions and substance use treatment outcomes. This review suggests that employment might be an effective relapse prevention measure, and offers possible opportunities for innovative programming in addiction treatment settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although integrated programs between child welfare and substance abuse treatment are recommended for families with co-occurring child maltreatment and substance use disorders, implementing integrated service delivery strategies with fidelity is a challenging process.Objective: This study of the first five years of the Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Team (START) program examines implementation fidelity using a model proposed by Carroll et al. (2007). The study describes the process of strengthening moderators of implementation fidelity, trends in adherence to START service delivery standards, and trends in parent and child outcomes.Methods: Qualitative and quantitative measures were used to prospectively study three START sites serving 341 families with 550 parents and 717 children.Results: To achieve implementation fidelity to service delivery standards required a pre-service year and two full years of operation, persistent leadership, and facilitative actions that challenged the existing paradigm. Over four years of service delivery, the time from the child protective services report to completion of five drug treatment sessions was reduced by an average of 75 days. This trend was associated with an increase in parent retention, parental sobriety, and parent retention of child custody.Conclusions/Importance: Understanding the implementation processes necessary to establish complex integrated programs may support realistic allocation of resources. Although implementation fidelity is a moderator of program outcome, complex inter-agency interventions may benefit from innovative measures of fidelity that promote improvement without extensive cost and data collection burden. The implementation framework applied in this study was useful in examining implementation processes, fidelity, and related outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Barbados Secondary School Entrance Examination (BSSEE) is used to allocate students to secondary schools in Barbados. However, this means of allocation has always been contentious. Therefore the aim of this study was to establish the predictive validity of the BSSEE in relation to the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC). Academic achievement was measured using students’ performances on the BSSEE and CSEC. The sample included 252 students across Barbados (130 males, 122 females). The results showed that the BSSEE accounted for 29% of the variance for this sample. Additionally, the means of female students were higher on both the BSSEE and CSEC, but only a statistically significant difference was obtained on the BSEEE. The BSSEE should be used in conjunction with other assessment scores as a fairer means to allocate students. Furthermore, the BSSEE should be used as a diagnostic tool for remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Victimized women within the criminal justice system are an important group and understanding their substance use is critical. Substance use was examined among 406 victimized women on probation and parole in an urban community from 2010 to 2013. Ninety-three percent reported lifetime use of an illicit substance, whereas 58% and 45% reported use of at least one illicit substance in the past 2 years and 12 months, respectively. Among probationers, having been in a controlled environment was associated with a higher prevalence of illicit substance use as compared to parolees. Implications for practice, policy, and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent years there has been a sharp increase in the use of illicit methadone as well as methadone-related overdose deaths. Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe factors associated with low- and high-frequency methadone use in a cohort of rural Appalachian drug users. Methods: Interviews assessing sociodemographics, illicit drug use and drug treatment, psychiatric disorders, health and sociometric drug network characteristics were conducted with 503 rural drug users between 2008 and 2010. A two-level mixed effects regression model was utilized to differentiate low- (one use per month or less in the past six months) versus high-frequency (daily or weekly use in the past six months) illicit methadone users. Results: The lifetime prevalence of illicit methadone use in this population was 94.7% ( n = 476) and slightly less than half (46.3%) were high-frequency users. In the mixed effects regression model, initiating illicit methadone use at a younger age was associated with high-frequency illicit methadone use. Taking a prescribed medication for a physical problem, undergoing additional weeks of outpatient drug free treatment, daily OxyContin® use in the past month, and having fewer ties and second-order connections in the drug network reduced the odds of high-frequency illicit methadone use. Conclusions: Rates of illicit methadone use and high-frequency illicit methadone use among this sample of rural drug users were considerably higher than those previously reported in the literature. Health practitioners in rural areas should routinely screen for illicit opioid use, including methadone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HIV is a health issue for women offenders who are at particularly high risk. Women's prisons can be opportune settings for HIV prevention interventions. How women perceive partner relationships could be central to targeting HIV interventions. Consequently, this study examines changes in women offenders' risky relationships. Baseline and follow-up data are presented from 344 women offenders. Intent-to-treat analysis is used as well as analysis of covariance to control for baseline values. Findings indicate that women released to the community from prison who were randomized into the prevention intervention were significantly more likely to report changes in five of seven risky relationship thinking myths. Findings suggest that a relationship theory-based prevention intervention for reducing HIV risk could be promising for women offenders reentering the community after prison. Additional research is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence, patterns, and predictors of nitrite inhalant use in antisocial adolescents. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 723 Missouri youth (Mage = 15.5, SD = 1.2) in residential care for antisocial behavior. The lifetime prevalence of nitrite inhalant use was 1.7% (1.3% for boys; 4.3% for girls, p = .06), a figure somewhat higher than comparable estimates from the MTF and NSDUH national surveys. Most lifetime users reported nitrite use in the prior year (92%) and experienced intoxication (83%) during periods of nitrite inhalation. Nitrite users had significantly higher scores on measures of somatization, obsessive-compulsive traits, interpersonal sensitivity, impulsivity, fearlessness, suicidality, and polydrug use and were significantly more likely to have suffered a serious head injury and to be White than their non-nitrite-using counterparts. Nitrite users also reported significantly higher levels of current psychiatric distress related to periods of faintness or dizziness, hot or cold spells, difficulty making decisions, and their "mind going blank" than did non-nitrite users. Antisocial adolescent nitrite users are at substantially elevated risk for serious functional impairments given their high rates of lifetime head injury, comparatively more varied and intensive levels of involvement with psychoactive drugs, and symptom reports suggestive of psychiatric and cognitive dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mapping of the human genome and scientific discoveries regarding genetic contributions to disease hold great promise for the prevention and treatment of an array of conditions. Social workers and other professionals must keep abreast of these developments and the ethical dimensions of such progress. Familiar ethical provisions such as confidentiality, informed consent, self-determination, and social justice take on new meaning in light of innovations in genetic science. This article reviews ethical issues and practice implications emerging from advances in genetics knowledge, and it suggests mechanisms for continuing professional development and involvement in this important area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prescription drug-related overdose deaths have increased dramatically in recent years. Women in the justice system experience high rates of drug use, victimization, trauma symptoms, and other health problems and would appear to be at high risk for nonmedical use of prescription drugs (NMUPD). This study will be among the first to describe prevalence and correlates of NMUPD among this population., Methods: This cross-sectional study collected data from 406 victimized women on probation and parole between 2010 and 2012. In a multiple logistic regression model, we differentiated women who reported past-year NMUPD from those who did not using demographic, health, other drug use, substance use treatment, and trauma symptom severity variables., Results: Past-year NMUPD was reported by 26.8% (n = 109) of the overall sample. Women reporting NMUPD were significantly younger and more likely to be white. Past-year use of alcohol (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 3.3; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.8-6.1), marijuana (AOR: 3.6; 95% CI: 1.8-7.0), methamphetamines (AOR: 6.1; 95% CI: 1.7-21.3), and heroin (AOR: 8.4; 95% CI: 2.0-35.2) were significantly associated with NMUPD. Additionally, each unit increase in the measure assessing bodily pain was associated with a 40% increase (AOR: 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1-1.7) in the odds of NMUPD. Finally, meeting diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder almost doubled (AOR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.1-3.4) the odds of reporting past-year NMUPD., Conclusions: Victimized women on probation and parole report high rates of NMUPD, and this behavior intersects with other complex social, behavioral, psychological, and physical needs. The authors recommend increased access to trauma-informed correctional care among women in the justice system.